Project Based Learning Assignment:

Link to our group's website: http://groupapblmedt7464.weebly.com/

     I found this project to be the most challenging project of all. I enjoyed collaborating with a group and being able to depend on other members for help and guidance. This task has helped me grow in the area of Project Based Learning, when before I knew nothing about. In completing our project, and reviewing the other projects, I have gained more than enough knowledge to be able to effectively implement some form of PBL in my future classroom. I will save the lesson plans my group created, as well as the others, to put into my education resource file. I wasn't expecting to learn as much as I did going into this project, but am glad that we were faced with such a profitable project.

     In reviewing the three projects, I learned what other ways/tools can be involved in creating a good PBL lesson plan. I was able to see the benefits of PBL in all subject areas. Our group created plans for Music/Science/Language Arts/Social Studies. Also, In reviewing the other PBL projects, I noticed some things that our own group could have improved upon, where we interpreted things differently from the other groups. However, I would have to say that my hats are off to group D. I found their PBL to be very thorough and concise. They went over and beyond what the requirements were, and I could see from their wiki, that they put a lot of hard work and effort into making their PBL come together. Their wiki didn't even look like a wiki. It looked like a web-page with all the color and features that added.

     Overall, this project was time consuming and challenging, but I enjoyed the challenge. I enjoyed seeing the different ways each group interpreted the directions and how we made our PBL projects our own. I could see school systems wanting to use and be able to incorporate something from each group. I found this project to be very beneficial to me as an educator because not only helped me become more aware of what PBL is, but how to be able to effectively implement it into my future classroom.

Pre-K Character Traits: Digital Story Project

     The main objective of this video is to help make the upcoming Pre-K students more comfortable during their transition from home to school, and show them what we, their teacher and assistant teacher, expects of them in Pre-K.

     The purpose of this project is so show upcoming Pre-K students what we (their teacher and assistant teacher) expect from them, and how we expect them to act. Since it is their first time in school, they have no clue as to what to do, how to act, how to play correctly (unless they have siblings), share, or speak to one another. This video will give them a quick introduction on how and what we are going to expect from them. I think it will help to bring some reality to the upcoming student’s because they are getting to watch other student’s that are just like them. This video would be shown on the T.V. during the first week of school. I would show it several times because repetition is key in Pre-K. Hopefully the video will help them to feel more comfortable, and will help guide them through such a huge and important transition in their life. 

     During this video the only challenge I encountered was with the students. I had to film my own Pre-K students and have to tell them what to say and do. They would stumble on some words, or get shy when I raised the camera up, but overall they overcame their difficulties. I added some bloopers at the end of the video to show some of the messes I had while filming my students.

     I love using MovieMaker. I am taking a film class that requires me to use MovieMaker a lot. I am nowhere near proficient in using the tool yet. It seems like every time I use MovieMaker, I learn something new. I am still working on using the transitions between shots. I want to try and make the movie smooth, and tone down on the choppiness. MovieMaker is a challenging, but fun tool. I think older students would also enjoy using this tool. Most of my students enjoyed being filmed, and had fun in helping me make the movie. They can’t wait till I show them the finished product. 

PBL...What is it? What does it mean for teaching?

According to Google Web, problem based learning in education is a student-centered instructional strategy in which students collaboratively solve problems and reflect on their experiences, or learning that is driven by a question or problem and uses various methods of inquiry research to address the question or problem.

Some of the things I learned while researching what problem based learning is:

     Specific tasks in a problem-based learning environment include:

• determining whether a problem exists;
• creating an exact statement of the problem;
• identifying information needed to understand the problem;
• identifying resources to be used to gather information;
• generating possible solutions;
• analyzing the solutions; and
• presenting the solution, orally and/or in writing.

PBL is used to engage students in learning. This is based on several theories in cognitive theory. Two prominent ones are that students work on problems perceived as meaningful or relevant and that people try to fill in the gaps when presented with a situation they do not readily understand. Teachers present students with a problem set, then student work-groups analyze the problem, research, discuss, analyze, and produce tentative explanations, solutions, or recommendations. It is essential to PBL that students do not possess sufficient prior knowledge to address the problem. In the initial discussion, students develop a set of questions that need to be addressed. These questions then become the objectives for students' learning.

My Experience with Voice Thread:

Link to Voice Thread project: http://voicethread.com/#q.b1364321.i7238700 
     I have learned an abundant amount of information while working with Voice Thread. When I first started putting together my voice thread, I was really confused as to how to make it all work. I think that students would really enjoy using Voice Thread because you get to see yourself if you use the web-cam, you get to talk on the phone to make a comment, and it is simple to use once you have figured it out. Also, this is a neat and exciting way for teachers to interact with students, rather than always talking in the class. The teacher could do a Voice Thread if they knew they were going to be out, and the substitute could share the Voice Thread with the class, and that students could complete their work that way. Voice Thread would be beneficial for all student levels, and could be adapted to all student levels. This could also be adapted to fit almost any academic subject. It really allows for personal creativity and individualization, which I think students crave.
      I am so excited to have been introduced to the exciting tool, Voice Thread. I cannot even begin to describe what I learned while experiencing Voice Thread and creating a lesson/activity to go along with it. I learned and discovered how much fun and useful Voice Thread would be in a classroom. This was my first time experiencing Voice Thread, and I loved it. It helped bring in more classroom/student skills than just creating something fun. The students are able to learn/work on technical skills, writing skills, social skills, and language skills. If the teacher were able to find some way to incorporate Voice Thread into a lesson/activity, or at the beginning of each unit, I think the teacher would find more of a learning connection with the students rather than just learning information from the book. Students want to learn and think “outside of the box” and I think Voice Thread helps do just that.

What I Have Experienced from Comic Life...

     What a great tool! I have learned an abundant amount of information while working with Comic Life. When I first started putting together my comic, I was thinking how in the world it this going to be beneficial in the classroom. Now, I can see that it would be an outlet for the students to be able to create something of their own, where they can add their own expression and personality into the project. Also, this is a fun and colorful way for the teacher to get an activity/lesson plan started because I think the students would enjoy reading the comics instead of just listening to the teacher talk the whole time. Comic Life would be beneficial for all student levels, and could be adapted to all student levels. This could also be adapted to fit almost any academic subject. It really allows for personal creativity and individualization, which I think students crave.

     I am so excited to have been introduced to the fun world of Comic Life. I cannot even begin to describe what I learned while experiencing Comic Life and creating a lesson/activity to go along with it. I learned and discovered how much fun and useful comic life would be in a classroom. This was my first time experiencing Comic Life, and I loved it. Comic Life helps bring in more classroom/student skills than just creating something fun. The students are able to learn/work on technical skills, writing skills, and language skills. If the teacher were able to find some way to incorporate Comic Life into each lesson/activity, or at the beginning of each unit, I think the teacher would find more of a learning connection with the students rather than just learning information from the book. Students want to learn and think “outside of the box” and I think Comic Life helps do just that.

 

Web 2.0 Applications - What in the world are they and how do I use them in a classroom?

Web 2.0 tools offer teachers great outlets for students. These tools are changing the way we teach, the way students learn, and the way we can impact student's lives. They have seemed to become more and more popular because classrooms are becoming more technology savvy. They offer great ways to incorporate group work, classroom and home projects, student/teacher/parent communication, and most importantly, they are helping students to become more individualized. The Web 2.0 tools help students be able to create their own personalized work that represents them. The teachers are able to let the students have free reign over the project, whenever before, it was so structured that all the projects wound up looking the same. These tools help break up the monotonous projects that bore students. With the tools, the students are able to add in their own style and still get the point of what they are learning about. Also, most of the time the Web 2.0 tools are FREE!! In times like these, and education funding being cut, teachers need free tools that their students will enjoy. I think these reasons are why teachers are finding the Web 2.0 tools to be so popular amongst their students. Some examples of Web 2.0 tools that are available to teachers are:

• Blogger
• Wordpress
• Myspace
• Youtube
• Metacafe
• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Furl
• Twitter
• Flickr

These just barely scrap the surface on what's out there for teachers to use. Search Web 2.0 tools for education, and you will be amazed at what you find!

Using the Correct Time Zone:

I just realized after my recent post, that it was not 7:29 in the morning. I didn't know that the blog defaults to Pacific Time Zone. I went in and had to change it to Eastern Time Zone. Now at least I can be on track time wise. :)